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day I have longed to ask you the history of this mysterious being。 On
that day began； for me； a series of enchantments。〃
〃Enchantments！〃 cried the pastor shaking the ashes of his pipe into an
earthen…ware dish full of sand； 〃are there enchantments in these
days？〃
〃You； who are carefully studying at this moment that volume of the
'Incantations' of Jean Wier； will surely understand the explanation of
my sensations if I try to give it to you；〃 replied Wilfrid。 〃If we
study Nature attentively in its great evolutions as in its minutest
works； we cannot fail to recognize the possibility of enchantment
giving to that word its exact significance。 Man does not create
forces； he employs the only force that exists and which includes all
others namely Motion； the breath incomprehensible of the sovereign
Maker of the universe。 Species are too distinctly separated for the
human hand to mingle them。 The only miracle of which man is capable is
done through the conjunction of two antagonistic substances。 Gunpowder
for instance is germane to a thunderbolt。 As to calling forth a
creation； and a sudden one； all creation demands time； and time
neither recedes nor advances at the word of command。 So； in the world
without us； plastic nature obeys laws the order and exercise of which
cannot be interfered with by the hand of man。 But after fulfilling； as
it were； the function of Matter； it would be unreasonable not to
recognize within us the existence of a gigantic power； the effects of
which are so incommensurable that the known generations of men have
never yet been able to classify them。 I do not speak of man's faculty
of abstraction； of constraining Nature to confine itself within the
Word；a gigantic act on which the common mind reflects as little as
it does on the nature of Motion； but which； nevertheless； has led the
Indian theosophists to explain creation by a word to which they give
an inverse power。 The smallest atom of their subsistence； namely； the
grain of rice； from which a creation issues and in which alternately
creation again is held； presented to their minds so perfect an image
of the creative word； and of the abstractive word； that to them it was
easy to apply the same system to the creation of worlds。 The majority
of men content themselves with the grain of rice sown in the first
chapter of all the Geneses。 Saint John； when he said the Word was God
only complicated the difficulty。 But the fructification； germination；
and efflorescence of our ideas is of little consequence if we compare
that property； shared by many men； with the wholly individual faculty
of communicating to that property； by some mysterious concentration；
forces that are more or less active； of carrying it up to a third； a
ninth； or a twenty…seventh power； of making it thus fasten upon the
masses and obtain magical results by condensing the processes of
nature。
〃What I mean by enchantments；〃 continued Wilfrid after a moment's
pause； 〃are those stupendous actions taking place between two
membranes in the tissue of the brain。 We find in the unexplorable
nature of the Spiritual World certain beings armed with these wondrous
faculties； comparable only to the terrible power of certain gases in
the physical world； beings who combine with other beings； penetrate
them as active agents； and produce upon them witchcrafts； charms；
against which these helpless slaves are wholly defenceless； they are；
in fact； enchanted； brought under subjection； reduced to a condition
of dreadful vassalage。 Such mysterious beings overpower others with
the sceptre and the glory of a superior nature；acting upon them at
times like the torpedo which electrifies or paralyzes the fisherman；
at other times like a dose of phosphorous which stimulates life and
accelerates its propulsion； or again； like opium； which puts to sleep
corporeal nature； disengages the spirit from every bond； enables it to
float above the world and shows this earth to the spiritual eye as
through a prism； extracting from it the food most needed； or； yet
again； like catalepsy； which deadens all faculties for the sake of one
only vision。 Miracles； enchantments； incantations； witchcrafts；
spells； and charms； in short； all those acts improperly termed
supernatural； are only possible and can only be explained by the
despotism with which some spirit compels us to feel the effects of a
mysterious optic which increases； or diminishes； or exalts creation；
moves within us as it pleases； deforms or embellishes all things to
our eyes； tears us from heaven； or drags us to hell；two terms by
which men agree to express the two extremes of joy and misery。
〃These phenomena are within us； not without us；〃 Wilfrid went on。 〃The
being whom we call Seraphita seems to me one of those rare and
terrible spirits to whom power is given to bind men； to crush nature；
to enter into participation of the occult power of God。 The course of
her enchantments over me began on that first day； when silence as to
her was imposed upon me against my will。 Each time that I have wished
to question you it seemed as though I were about to reveal a secret of
which I ought to be the incorruptible guardian。 Whenever I have tried
to speak； a burning seal has been laid upon my lips； and I myself have
become the involuntary minister of these mysteries。 You see me here
to…night； for the hundredth time； bruised； defeated； broken； after
leaving the hallucinating sphere which surrounds that young girl； so
gentle； so fragile to both of you； but to me the cruellest of
magicians！ Yes； to me she is like a sorcerer holding in her right hand
the invisible wand that moves the globe； and in her left the
thunderbolt that rends asunder all things at her will。 No longer can I
look upon her brow； the light of it is insupportable。 I skirt the
borders of the abyss of madness too closely to be longer silent。 I
must speak。 I seize this moment； when courage comes to me； to resist
the power which drags me onward without inquiring whether or not I
have the force to follow。 Who is she？ Did you know her young？ What of
her birth？ Had she father and mother； or was she born of the
conjunction of ice and sun？ She burns and yet she freeze； she shows
herself and then withdraws； she attracts me and repulses me； she
brings me life； she gives me death； I love her and yet I hate her！ I
cannot live thus； let me be wholly in heaven or in hell！〃
Holding his refilled pipe in one hand； and in the other the cover
which he forgot to replace； Monsieur Becker listened to Wilfrid with a
mysterious expression on his face； looking occasionally at his
daughter； who seemed to understand the man's language as in harmony
with the strange being who inspired it。 Wilfrid was splendid to behold
at this moment；like Hamlet listening to the ghost of his father as
it rises for him alone in the midst of the living。
〃This is certainly the language of a man in love；〃 said the good
pastor； innocently。
〃In love！〃 cried Wilfrid； 〃yes； to common minds。 But； dear Monsieur
Becker； no words can express the frenzy which draws me to the feet of
that unearthly being。〃
〃Then you do love her？〃 said Minna； in a tone of reproach。
〃Mademoiselle； I feel such extraordinary agitation when I see her； and
such deep sadness when I see her no more； that in any other man what I
feel would be called love。 But that sentiment draws those who feel it
ardently together； whereas between her and me a great gulf lies； whose
icy coldness penetrates my very being in her presence； though the
feeling dies away when I see her no longer。 I leave her in despair； I
return to her with ardor；like men of science who seek a secret from
Nature only to be baffled； or like the painter who would fain put life
upon his canvas and strives with all the resources of his art in the
vain attempt。〃
〃Monsieur； all that you say is true；〃 replied the young girl；
artlessly。
〃How can you know； Minna？〃 asked the old pastor。
〃Ah！ my father； had you been with us this morning on the summit of the
Falberg； had you seen him praying； you would not ask me that question。
You would say； like Monsieur Wilfrid； that he saw his Seraphita for
the first time in our temple； 'It is the Spirit of Prayer。'〃
These words were followed by a moment's silence。
〃Ah； truly！〃 said Wilfrid； 〃she has nothing in common with the
creatures who grovel upon this earth。〃
〃On the Falberg！〃 said the old pastor； 〃how could you get there？〃
〃I do not know；〃 replied Minna； 〃the way is like a dream to me； of
which no more than a memory remains。 Perhaps I should hardly believe
that I had been there were it not for this tangible proof。〃
She drew the flower from her bosom and showed it to them。 All three
gazed at the pretty saxifrage； which was still fresh； and now shone in
the light of the two lamps like a third luminary。
〃This is indeed supernatural；〃 said the old man； astounde